Magnetic field sensor integrated circuit with integral ferromagnetic material

ABSTRACT

A magnetic field sensor includes a lead frame, a passive component, semiconductor die supporting a magnetic field sensing element and attached to the lead frame, a non-conductive mold material enclosing the die and at least a portion of the lead frame, and a ferromagnetic mold material secured to a portion of the non-conductive mold material. The lead frame has a recessed region and the passive component is positioned in the recessed region. The ferromagnetic mold material may comprise a soft ferromagnetic material to form a concentrator or a hard ferromagnetic material to form a bias magnet.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/165,464, filed on Oct. 19, 2018, which is a Divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/424,618, filed on Mar. 20, 2012, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,234,513, issued on Mar. 19, 2019, which are both incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to magnetic field sensors and, more particularly, to integrated circuit magnetic field sensors having an integral ferromagnetic material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Magnetic field sensors including a magnetic field sensing element, or transducer, such as a Hall Effect element or a magnetoresistance element, are used in a variety of applications to detect aspects of movement of a ferromagnetic article, or target, such as proximity, speed, and direction. Illustrative applications include, but are not limited to, a magnetic switch or “proximity detector” that senses the proximity of a ferromagnetic article, a proximity detector that senses passing ferromagnetic articles (for example, magnetic domains of a ring magnet or gear teeth), a magnetic field sensor that senses a magnetic field density of a magnetic field, and a current sensor that senses a magnetic field generated by a current flowing in a current conductor. Magnetic field sensors are widely used in automobile control systems, for example, to detect ignition timing from a position of an engine crankshaft and/or camshaft, and to detect a position and/or rotation of an automobile wheel for anti-lock braking systems.

In applications in which the ferromagnetic target is magnetic, a magnetically permeable concentrator or magnetic flux guide is sometimes used to focus the magnetic field generated by the target on the magnetic field transducer, thus increasing the sensitivity of the sensor, allowing the use of a smaller magnetic target, and/or allowing the magnetic target to be sensed from a larger distance (i.e., a larger airgap). In other applications, in which the ferromagnetic target is not magnetic, a permanent magnet, sometimes referred to as a back bias magnet, may be used to generate the magnetic field that is then altered by movement of the target.

In some applications it is desirable to provide a back bias magnet with two magnetic poles on the magnet surface adjacent to the magnetic field transducer. For example, as described in a U.S. Pat. No. 5,781,005 entitled “Hall-Effect Ferromagnetic-Article-Proximity Sensor,” which is assigned to the Assignee of the subject application, the near presence of opposite poles serves to short out the lines of flux when no ferromagnetic article is present, thereby presenting a significant and easily recognizable difference between an article present (e.g., gear tooth present) condition and an article absent (e.g., gear valley present) condition and maintaining a low magnetic flux density baseline regardless of airgap. Because of the easily recognizable difference in the magnetic field signal, these types of arrangements are advantageous for use in sensors in which it is necessary to detect the presence/absence of a magnetic article, such sensors sometimes being referred to as True Power On Sensors, or TPOS, sensors.

Generally, back bias magnets and concentrators are held in place relative to the magnetic field sensing element by mechanical means, such as an adhesive as shown in a U.S. Pat. No. 6,265,865 entitled “Single Unitary Plastic Package for a Magnetic Field Sensing Device,” which is assigned to the Assignee of the subject application. Such mechanical positioning can lead to performance variations, such as sensitivity variations, from device to device due to position tolerances. Thus, it is advantageous to manufacture the sensor so that the sensor and the back bias magnet or concentrator are integrally formed, thereby eliminating position tolerances. A magnetic field sensor of this type is described in a U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0141249 entitled “Magnetic Field Sensors and Methods for Fabricating the Magnetic Field Sensors,” which is also assigned to the Assignee of the subject application and in which a concentrator or magnet may be formed by a liquid encapsulant or a combination of a liquid encapsulant and permanent magnet in a cavity on the side of the sensor opposite the target.

While the use of a back bias magnet is advantageous in certain applications, the hard magnetic material used to form the magnet is relatively expensive and represents a significant part of the overall cost of the sensor.

There are many package types and fabrication techniques in use for providing integrated circuit magnetic field sensors. For example, the semiconductor die in which the magnetic field sensing element is formed may be attached to a lead frame by various techniques, such as with an adhesive tape or epoxy, and may be electrically coupled to the lead frame by various techniques, such as with solder bumps or wire bonding. Also, the lead frame may take various forms and the semiconductor die may be attached to the lead frame in an orientation with the active semiconductor surface (i.e., the surface in which the magnetic field sensing element is formed) being adjacent to the lead frame in a so called “flip-chip” arrangement, with the active semiconductor surface opposite the lead frame surface in a so called “die up” arrangement, or with the semiconductor die positioned below the lead frame in a so called “Lead on Chip” arrangement.

Molding is often used in fabricating integrated circuit magnetic field sensors to provide the protective and electrically insulative “overmold” to the semiconductor die. Transfer molding has also been used to form two different molded portions for various reasons. For example, in a U.S. Pat. No. 7,816,772 entitled “Methods and Apparatus for Multi-Stage Molding of Integrated Circuit Package” which is assigned to the Assignee of the subject application, a first molded structure is formed over the semiconductor die to protect wire bonds and the device is overmolded with a second molded structure formed over the first molded structure. In a U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0140725 entitled “Integrated Circuit Including Sensor having Injection Molded Magnetic Material,” an injection molded magnetic material encloses at least a portion of a magnetic field sensor.

Molding, while providing a cost effective fabrication technique, can present challenges, such as removal of the device from the mold in a manner that does not subject the device to deleterious stresses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the invention, a magnetic field sensor includes a lead frame, a semiconductor die supporting a magnetic field sensing element and attached to the lead frame, a non-conductive mold material enclosing the die and at least a portion of the lead frame, a ferromagnetic mold material secured to a portion of the non-conductive mold material, and a securing mechanism by which the non-conductive and ferromagnetic mold materials are securely engaged. In this and other embodiments, the ferromagnetic mold material may comprise a soft ferromagnetic material to form a concentrator or a hard ferromagnetic material to form a bias magnet. The ferromagnetic mold material may be tapered and package embodiments include die up, lead on chip, and flip-chip configurations.

According to a further aspect, a magnetic field sensor includes a lead frame, a semiconductor die supporting a magnetic field sensing element and attached to the lead frame, a non-conductive mold material enclosing the die and at least a portion of the lead frame, and a ferromagnetic mold material secured to a portion of the non-conductive mold material and comprising a non-contiguous central region extending from a first end proximate to the lead frame to a second end distal from the lead frame. The non-contiguous central region may be an aperture or may contain the non-conductive mold material or an overmold material. The ferromagnetic mold material may take the form of a substantially ring-shaped or partial ring-shaped structure, such as a D-shaped structure, an 0-shaped structure, a U-shaped structure or a C-shaped structure, as examples.

Also described is a magnetic field sensor including a lead frame having a first surface, a second opposing surface, and a plurality of leads, at least one capacitor coupled to at least one of the leads, a semiconductor die having a first surface in which a magnetic field sensing element is disposed and a second opposing surface, a non-conductive mold material enclosing the die, at least a portion of the lead frame, and the at least one capacitor, and a ferromagnetic mold material secured to a portion of the non-conductive mold material. The capacitor may be adjacent to the first surface of the lead frame or the second surface of the lead frame.

According to a further aspect, a magnetic field sensor includes a lead frame having a first surface comprising a die attach area and a second opposing surface, a semiconductor die having a first surface attached to the die attach area and in which a magnetic field sensing element is disposed, a non-conductive mold material enclosing the die and at least a portion of the lead frame, and a ferromagnetic mold material secured to a portion of the non-conductive mold material. With this arrangement, the magnetic field sensor is provided in a flip-chip configuration.

Also described is a magnetic field sensor including a lead frame, a semiconductor die attached to the lead frame and having a first surface and a second opposing surface wherein a magnetic field sensing element is disposed in one of the first and second opposing surfaces, and a layer of ferromagnetic material applied to the second surface of the semiconductor die by a wafer level technique, as may form a bias magnet or concentrator. The magnetic field sensing element may be disposed in the first surface of the die and be coupled to the lead frame from the first surface of the die. Alternatively, the magnetic field sensing element may be disposed in the first surface of the die and be coupled to the lead frame from the second surface of the die. And in a further embodiment, the magnetic field sensing element is disposed in the second surface of the die.

A further magnetic field sensor includes a lead frame having a first surface and a second opposing surface, a semiconductor die having a first surface in which a magnetic field sensing element is disposed and a second opposing surface attached to the first surface of the lead frame, a magnet attached to the second surface of the lead frame and having a non-contiguous central region and at least one channel extending laterally from the central region; and an overmold material forming an enclosure surrounding the magnet, semiconductor die, and a portion of the lead frame. The enclosure is evacuated using the at least one channel of the magnet. The magnet may comprise a mold material and a plurality of laterally extending channels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features of the invention, as well as the invention itself may be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a magnetic field sensor having a non-conductive mold material and a ferromagnetic mold material and a securing mechanism between the non-conductive and ferromagnetic mold materials;

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of the sensor of FIG. 1 taken along line A-A of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the sensor of FIG. 1 taken along line B-B of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 1C is an alternative cross-sectional view of the sensor of FIG. 1 taken along line B-B of FIG. 1 and illustrating an alternative securing mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the magnetic field sensor of FIG. 1 further having a third mold material and illustrating a further alternative securing mechanism;

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of an alternative magnetic field sensor having the third mold material and alternative securing mechanism as shown in FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative packaged magnetic field sensor having a non-conductive mold material, a ferromagnetic mold material, and a third mold material;

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of another alternative packaged magnetic field sensor having a non-conductive mold material, and a ferromagnetic mold material, and a third mold material;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a packaged magnetic field sensor having integrated components coupled to the lead frame, a non-conductive mold material, and a ferromagnetic mold material;

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the sensor of FIG. 4 taken along line A-A of FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a surface mount packaged magnetic field sensor having integrated components coupled to the opposite side of the lead frame from the die, a non-conductive mold material, and a ferromagnetic mold material;

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the sensor of FIG. 5 taken along line A-A of FIG. 5 ;

FIG. 5B is an alternative cross-sectional view of the sensor of FIG. 5 taken along line A-A of FIG. 5 ;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a flip-chip surface mount packaged magnetic field sensor having an integrated component coupled to the opposite side of the lead frame from the die, a non-conductive mold material, and a ferromagnetic mold material;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a magnetic field sensor having a plurality of magnetic field sensing elements, a non-conductive mold material, and a ferromagnetic mold material;

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary process for fabricating the magnetic field sensors of FIGS. 1-7 ;

FIG. 8A is a flow diagram illustrating an alternative process for fabricating the magnetic field sensors of FIGS. 1-7 ;

FIG. 9 shows a semiconductor wafer having a ferromagnetic material layer according to a further aspect;

FIG. 10 shows a packaged magnetic field sensor formed from the wafer of FIG. 9 ;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a magnetic field sensor formed from the wafer of FIG. 9 and having solder bumps suitable for certain integrated circuit packaging options;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative magnetic field sensor formed from the wafer of FIG. 9 and having solder bumps;

FIG. 13 is yet another alternative magnetic field sensor formed with the wafer of FIG. 9 and having solder bumps;

FIG. 14 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary process for fabricating the magnetic field sensors of FIGS. 10-13 ;

FIG. 15 is a magnetic field sensor according to a further aspect;

FIG. 16 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary process for fabricating the magnetic field sensor of FIG. 15 ; and

FIG. 17 is a plan view of an alternative packaged magnetic field sensor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 , and also to the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 1A and 1B, a magnetic field sensor 10 includes a semiconductor die 14 having a first, active surface 14 a in which a magnetic field sensing element or transducer 22 is formed and a second, opposing surface 14 b attached to a die attach area 16 on a first surface 18 a of a lead frame 18, a non-conductive mold material 20 enclosing the die and at least a portion of the lead frame, and a ferromagnetic mold material 30 secured to the non-conductive mold material. The ferromagnetic mold material 30 comprises a ferromagnetic material and is tapered from a first end 30 a proximate to the lead frame 18 to a second end 30 b distal from the lead frame. The active die surface 14 a is opposite the die surface 14 b which is attached to the die attach area 16 and thus, this configuration may be referred to as a “die up” arrangement.

The magnetic field sensing element 22 in this and other embodiments can be, but is not limited to, a Hall effect element, a magnetoresistance element, or a magnetotransistor. As is known, there are different types of Hall effect elements, for example, a planar Hall element, a vertical Hall element, and a circular vertical Hall element. As is also known, there are different types of magnetoresistance elements, for example, a semiconductor magnetoresistance element such as Indium Antimonide (InSb), a giant magnetoresistance (GMR) element, an anisotropic magnetoresistance element (AMR), a tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) element, and a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ). The sensing element 22 may include a single element or, alternatively, may include two or more elements arranged in various configurations, e.g., a half bridge or full (Wheatstone) bridge. The sensing element 22 may be a device made of a type IV semiconductor material such as Silicon (Si) or Germanium (Ge), or a type III-V semiconductor material like Gallium-Arsenide (GaAs) or an Indium compound, e.g., Indium-Antimonide (InSb). In some embodiments, it may be desirable to use two or more substrates, one for the magnetic field sensing element(s) and another, such as a Si substrate, for associated processing circuitry. Illustrative multiple substrate arrangements are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,768,083 entitled “Arrangements for an Integrated Sensor,” which is assigned to the Assignee of the subject application.

It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that while the active surface 14 a of the semiconductor die 14 is described herein as the surface “in” which the magnetic field sensing element is disposed or formed as is the case with certain types of magnetic field elements (e.g., Hall plate), the element may be disposed “over” or “on” the active semiconductor surface (e.g. magnetoresistance elements). For simplicity of explanation however, while the embodiments described herein may utilize any suitable type of magnetic field sensing elements, such elements will be described generally herein as being formed or disposed “in” the active semiconductor surface.

In use, the magnetic field sensor 10 like the other sensor embodiments described herein may be positioned in proximity to a moveable magnetically permeable ferromagnetic article, or target, such as the illustrated gear 12, such that the magnetic field transducer 22 is adjacent to the article 12 and is thereby exposed to a magnetic field altered by movement of the article. The magnetic field transducer 22 generates a magnetic field signal proportional to the magnetic field.

While the magnetic field sensor 10 in FIG. 1 is oriented relative to the target 12 such that the transducer 22 is closer to the target than the ferromagnetic mold material 30, it will be appreciated that it may be desirable in certain applications to rotate the sensor 10 by 180° so that the ferromagnetic mold material is closer to the target than the transducer. Also, the sensor 10 may be rotated by 90° so that the major face of the transducer is orthogonal to the target, thereby achieving a different type of magnetically sensitive sensor, as may be desirable when the transducer is a magnetoresistance element for example.

The ferromagnetic article 12 may be comprised of a hard ferromagnetic, or simply hard magnetic material (i.e., a permanent magnet such as a segmented ring magnet), a soft ferromagnetic material, or even an electromagnet and embodiments described herein may be used in conjunction with any such article arrangement.

In embodiments in which the article 12 is comprised of a soft ferromagnetic material, the ferromagnetic mold material 30 is comprised of a hard ferromagnetic material to form a bias magnet; whereas in embodiments in which the article 12 is comprised of a hard ferromagnetic material, the ferromagnetic mold material 30 may be soft ferromagnetic material to form a concentrator, or a hard magnetic material where a bias field is desired (for example, in the case of a magnetoresistance element that is biased with a hard magnetic material or permanent magnet). In embodiments in which the ferromagnetic mold material 30 comprises a hard ferromagnetic material to form a bias magnet and in which the sensor 10 is oriented relative to the target such that transducer 22 is closer to the target than the ferromagnetic mold material 30 as shown, the bias magnet may be referred to as a back bias magnet.

The magnetic field sensor 10 generally includes additional circuitry formed in the active surface 14 a of the die 14 for processing the magnetic field signal provided by the transducer 22. The lead frame 18 includes leads 24 a-24 c for coupling the circuitry to system components (not shown), such as a power source or microcontroller. Electrical connection between the leads 24 a-24 c and the semiconductor die 14 can be provided with wire bonds 26 a-26 c, respectively as shown. While the sensor 10 is shown to include three leads 24 a-24 c, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that various numbers of leads are possible. Other techniques for electrically coupling the lead frame leads to the sensor components include solder bumps or balls (FIG. 6 ) or pillar bumps.

The integrated circuit sensor 10 may be provided in the form of a two to six pin Single In-Line (SIP) package, or some other number of pins as appropriate. The die attach area 16 on the first surface 18 a of a lead frame 18 is generally a dedicated area of the conductive lead frame to accept the semiconductor die 14. The die attach area 16 is sometimes referred to as a die attach paddle or a die attach pad and in some embodiments the die attach pad may be a silver plated or a NiPdAu area for example. Alternatively, as described in a co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/350,970 entitled “Methods and Apparatus for a Magnetic Sensor having a Non-conductive Die Paddle” which was filed on Jan. 16, 2012 and assigned to the Assignee of the subject application, it may be desirable to form the die attach area with a non-conductive material, particularly in applications where Eddy currents can occur. Conventional techniques for securing the die 14 to the die attach area 16 include the use of adhesives, such as epoxy or an adhesive tape. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the die attach area may or may not be a contiguous area. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 17 , the die attach area spans a plurality of leads.

The non-conductive mold material 20 is comprised of a non-conductive material so as to electrically isolate and mechanically protect the die 14 and the enclosed portion of the lead frame 18. Suitable materials for the non-conductive mold material 20 include thermoset and thermoplastic mold compounds and other commercially available IC mold compounds. It will be appreciated that the non-conductive mold material 20 can contain a ferromagnetic material, such as in the form of ferromagnetic particles, as long as such material is non-conductive.

The non-conductive mold material 20 is applied to the lead frame/die subassembly, such as in a first molding step (FIG. 8 ), to enclose the die 14 and a portion of the lead frame 18. The non-conductive mold material 20 has a first surface 20 a and a second, opposing surface 20 b. The shape and dimensions of the non-conductive mold material are selected to suit a particular IC package.

In some embodiments as noted above, the ferromagnetic mold material 30 is comprised of a hard or permanent magnetic material to form a bias magnet. As will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, various materials are suitable for providing the ferromagnetic mold material 30 depending on the operating temperature range and final package size. In some embodiments, it may be desirable for the ferromagnetic mold material to have a coercivity larger than its remanence.

Illustrative hard magnetic materials for the ferromagnetic mold material include, but are not limited to hard magnetic ferrites, SmCo alloys, NdFeB alloy materials, or Plastiform® materials of Arnold Magnetic Technologies Corp., or other plastic compounds with hard magnetic particles, for example a thermoset polymer such as polyphenylene sulfide material (PPS) or nylon material containing SmCo, NdFeB, or hard ferromagnetic ferrite magnetic particles; or a thermoset polymer such as SUMIKON® EME of Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd or similar type of thermoset mold material containing hard magnetic particles. In some embodiments it may be desirable to align the hard ferromagnetic particles during molding to form a more isotropic or directional permanent magnetic material by molding in the presence of a magnetic field; whereas, in other embodiments, a sufficient magnet may result without an alignment step during molding for isotropic materials. It will be appreciated that a NdFeB or a SmCo alloy may contain other elements to improve temperature performance, magnetic coercivity, or other magnetic properties useful to a magnetic design.

In other embodiments, the ferromagnetic mold material 30 is comprised of a soft ferromagnetic material to form a concentrator. As will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, various materials are suitable for providing the ferromagnetic mold material 30 in the form of a soft ferromagnetic material. In some embodiments, it may be desirable for the soft ferromagnetic mold material to have a relatively low coercivity and high permeability. Suitable soft ferromagnetic materials include, but are not limited to permalloy, NiCo alloys, NiFe alloys, steel, nickel, and soft magnetic ferrites.

The ferromagnetic mold material 30 is secured to the non-conductive mold material 20, such as in a second molding step (FIG. 8 ). The ferromagnetic mold material contacts the second surface 20 b of the non-conductive mold material and also a portion of the sides of the non-conductive mold material between the first and second surfaces 20 a, 20 b, as shown. It will be appreciated that while a molding process is described in FIGS. 8 and 8A as being the process by which the ferromagnetic mold material 30 is secured to the non-conductive mold material 20, the ferromagnetic mold material can be (either additionally or alternatively) secured to the non-conductive mold material 20 using an adhesive, such as a thermoset adhesive (e.g., a two-part epoxy).

In some embodiments, a portion of the non-conductive mold material 20 that contacts the ferromagnetic mold material 30 and/or the portion of the ferromagnetic mold material that contacts the non-conductive mold material has a securing mechanism in order to improve the adhesion between the two materials and to prevent or reduce lateral slippage or shear between the materials. As one example, the lead frame 18 has extensions 18 c which extend beyond the non-conductive mold material and are enclosed by the ferromagnetic mold material, as shown. Such lead frame extensions additionally enhance the adhesion of the ferromagnetic mold material to the lead frame itself. In such embodiments utilizing lead frame portions as a securing mechanism such that the ferromagnetic mold material contacts such lead frame portions, it will be appreciated that the ferromagnetic mold material should be non-conductive or have a sufficiently low conductivity to prevent the leads from electrically shorting resulting in the device not operating as intended. Alternative forms of securing mechanisms are shown in other embodiments.

As is shown in FIG. 1B, a portion of the leads 24 a-24 c is enclosed by the non-conductive mold material 20. The non-conductive mold material surrounds the leads out to the edge of the package in order to isolate the ferromagnetic mold material 30 from the leads (since the ferromagnetic mold material may be electrically conductive).

According to the alternative cross-sectional view of FIG. 1C, portions of the non-conductive mold material 20 adjacent to the leads 24 a-24 c may be “cut out” around the leads so as to follow the contours of the leads, as shown. This arrangement may be desirable in some applications for magnetic performance reasons, to thereby increase the amount of the hard ferromagnetic material of the ferromagnetic mold material in proximity to the transducer 22. Also shown in FIG. 1C is an alternative securing mechanism in the form of lead frame tabs 18 c′. The tabs 18 c′ may be planar and may have an eye as shown. With this arrangement, the ferromagnetic mold material 30 flows through the eye of the tabs and around the tabs to improve the adhesion of the ferromagnetic mold material to the lead frame and non-conductive mold material.

It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, that various types of processes may be used to form the mold materials including but not limited to molding, such as compression molding, injection molding, and transfer molding, and potting. Furthermore, combinations of the various techniques for forming the mold materials are possible.

A mold cavity used to define the ferromagnetic mold material 30 may include a mandrel so that the ferromagnetic mold material forms a ring-shaped structure having a central aperture 40, here extending from the second surface 20 b of the non-conductive mold material to a second end 30 b of the ferromagnetic mold material. The mold material 30 may form a conventional 0-shaped ring structure or a D-shaped structure. Alternatively, the ferromagnetic mold material 30 may form only a partial ring-like structure, as may be described as a “C” or “U” shaped structure. More generally, the ferromagnetic mold material 30 comprises a non-contiguous central region such that the central region is not formed integrally with its outer region. Such central region may be an open area, such as in the case of aperture 40 in FIG. 1 , or may contain a ferromagnetic material such as in the embodiment of FIG. 2 for example.

The ferromagnetic mold material 30 is tapered from its first end 30 a (or a location close to its first end) to its second end 30 b as is apparent from the side view of FIG. 1 . In particular, the ferromagnetic mold material has a first taper to its outer circumferential surface 32 a and a second taper to its inner central aperture surface 32 b. The purpose of the taper is to facilitate removal of the sensor 10 from the mold cavity. The angle of the taper of the surfaces 32 a, 32 b may be the same or similar to each other and generally, the angle of the taper of the surfaces 32 a, 32 b is less than approximately 15 to 20 degrees. In some embodiments, the angle of taper is on the order of 2-7 degrees.

As can be seen from the views of FIGS. 1B and 1C, the packaged magnetic field sensor 10 may have a truncated edge 42 for ease of assembly, for example to facilitate bending the leads and to help mechanically locate the sensor 10 relative to other structures, such as a circuit board or housing which holds the sensor, in use. In this case, the ferromagnetic mold material 30 may be more accurately described as a D-ring structure or magnet.

Referring also to FIG. 2 , an alternative magnetic field sensor 50, in which like elements to FIG. 1 are labeled with like reference characters, includes semiconductor die 14, a magnetic field sensing element 22, lead frame 18, non-conductive mold material 20, and ferromagnetic mold material 30. The sensor 50 differs from the sensor 10 (FIG. 1 ) in the addition of a third mold material 54 in the central region of the ferromagnetic mold material 30.

The third mold material 54 may be formed by a third molding step (FIG. 8 ) or other suitable fabrication technique so as to be secured to the ferromagnetic mold material 30. The third mold material 54 may be comprised of a hard ferromagnetic material, a soft ferromagnetic material, or a non-ferromagnetic mold compound.

In one embodiment, the ferromagnetic mold material 30 is comprised of a hard ferromagnetic material and the third mold material 54 is comprised of a soft ferromagnetic material and provides a concentrator magnetized such that two poles are adjacent to the second surface 20 b of the non-conductive mold material. As described in the above-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,781,005, the near presence of opposite poles with respect to the magnetic field transducer 22 serves to short out the lines of flux when no ferromagnetic target is present, thereby lowering the baseline of the flux density map regardless of airgap, and enhancing the ability to discern a target present from a target absent condition.

The sensor 50 includes an alternative securing mechanism between the first ferromagnetic and third mold materials, here in the form or ridges 18 c″. Other examples of securing mechanisms include the use of an adhesive material and/or various other features designed to provide interference and/or an interlocking mechanism between the mold materials.

Referring also to FIG. 2A, an alternative magnetic field sensor 56, in which like elements to FIG. 2 are labeled with like reference characters, includes semiconductor die 14, magnetic field sensing element 22, lead frame 18, non-conductive mold material 20, ferromagnetic mold material 30, and third mold material 54 in the central region of the ferromagnetic mold material. The sensor 56 differs from the sensor 50 of FIG. 2 in that here, the sensor is arranged in a lead on chip configuration with the lead frame 18 positioned above the die 14. An adhesive 58 may be used to secure the lead frame 18 to the active surface 14 a of the die. Here leads 24 a and 24 b are electrically coupled to the die 14 by respective wire bonds 26 a, 26 b.

Referring to FIG. 3 , a further alternative magnetic field sensor 60 includes a semiconductor die 62 having a first active surface 62 a in which a magnetic field sensing element 64 is disposed and a second, opposing surface 62 b attached to a die attach area 66 on a first surface 70 a of a lead frame 70, a non-conductive mold material 74 enclosing the die and at least a portion of the lead frame, and a ferromagnetic mold material 80 secured to a portion of the non-conductive mold material. A securing mechanism, such as barbs 18 c of FIG. 1 , tabs 18 c′ of FIG. 1C, ridges 18 c″ of FIG. 2 or other suitable mechanisms, may be provided to enhance the adhesion between the non-conductive and ferromagnetic mold materials.

The ferromagnetic mold material 80 comprises a ferromagnetic material and is tapered from a first end 80 a proximate to the lead frame 70 to a second end 80 b distal from the lead frame. The active die surface 62 a is opposite the die surface 62 b which is attached to the die attach area 66 and thus, this configuration may be referred to as a “die up” arrangement.

The ferromagnetic mold material 80 is tapered along both its outer circumferential surface 82 a and its inner surface 82 b from its first end 80 a to its second end 80 b. Here again, the angle of taper of the surface 82 a may be on the order of less than 15-20 degrees. The angle of the taper of the inner surface 82 b may be the same as or similar to the angle of the taper of the outer surface 82 a.

The non-conductive mold material 74 has a protrusion 76 extending away from a second surface 70 b of the lead frame 70 as shown. The protrusion 76 prevents there being a void in the bottom surface of the sensor 60 (adjacent to the second end 80 b of the ferromagnetic mold material), since the presence of a void may make overmolding (described below) more difficult. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the protrusion may extend all or only part of the way to the second end 80 b of the ferromagnetic mold material (see also FIG. 3A).

The ferromagnetic mold material 80 has a non-contiguous central region, here in the form of a central aperture defined by the inner circumferential surface 80 a and resulting in a ring, or 0-shaped magnet 80. Here again however, it will be appreciated that the non-contiguous central region of the ferromagnetic mold material 80 may take other shapes, so as to form a D-shaped, C-shaped, or U-shaped structure as examples.

The ferromagnetic mold material 80 may be comprised of a hard ferromagnetic material to form a bias magnet. Alternatively, it will be appreciated that the ferromagnetic mold material 80 may be comprised of a soft ferromagnetic material to thereby form a concentrator.

The sensor 60 may, optionally, include a third mold material 90 in the form of an overmold in order to protect and electrically insulate the device. The third mold material 90 may be applied during a third molding step (FIGS. 8 and 8A) or alternatively by any suitable fabrication method. The overmold 90 is considered optional because its purpose is to provide electrical insulation and, in embodiments in which the ferromagnetic mold material 80 is sufficiently electrically insulative (e.g, provides more than approximately 1 megaohm of resistance in certain applications), the overmold 90 may be eliminated. It will be appreciated that the overmold 90 may be provided for the sensors 10, 50 of FIGS. 1-2 and other embodiments.

Suitable materials for providing the overmold material 90 include but are not limited to standard die encapsulation mold compounds such as PPS, nylon, SUMIKON® EME of Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd., or Hysol® mold compounds of Henkel AG & Co. KGaA.

Referring also to FIG. 3A, another magnetic field sensor 84 is shown with like features having like reference characters. As will be apparent, the sensor 84 of FIG. 3A differs from the sensor 60 of FIG. 3 only in that the protrusion 86 terminates before the second end 80 b of the ferromagnetic mold material 80. Thus, in the embodiment of FIG. 3A, the distal end 86 a of the protrusion is covered with the ferromagnetic mold material 80, as shown.

Referring also to FIGS. 4 and 4A, a magnetic field sensor 100 provided in an alternative IC SIP package includes non-conductive and ferromagnetic mold materials 104, 108, respectively, and further includes at least one, and here two, integrated passive components such as resistors, inductors, or capacitors, and here capacitors 102 a, 102 b, attached to a lead frame 110. The sensor 100 includes the lead frame 110 having a die attach area 112 to which a semiconductor die 116 is secured. A magnetic field sensing element 122 is disposed in an active surface 116 a of the die 116. Here again, the active die surface 116 a is opposite the die surface 116 b that is secured to the die attach area 112 of the lead frame 110. Thus, this arrangement may be referred to as a “die up” arrangement. As will be apparent from comparing the thickness of the ferromagnetic mold material 108 in FIG. 4A with that in FIGS. 1-3 , various thicknesses are possible depending on the particular embodiment. As one example, in some embodiments in which the ferromagnetic mold material comprises a soft ferromagnetic material to provide a concentrator, it may be desirable for the ferromagnetic mold material to be somewhat thinner than when the ferromagnetic mold material comprises a hard ferromagnetic material to provide a permanent magnet. Similarly, various package shapes are possible.

A plurality of leads 120 a-120 h of the lead frame are electrically coupled to circuitry supported by the die, here with wire bonds 118 a-118 d (as shown for leads 120 e-120h, respectively). The capacitors 102 a, 102 b may be useful to reduce EMC, ESD or address other electrical issues with the sensor 100. For example, with capacitors 102 a, 102 b, power to the sensor may be held longer in order to prevent a power on reset state by holding an output state in the case of a broken or damaged wire. It is also possible to have other numbers of capacitors, for example one capacitor may be provided between a power and ground or output and ground pins.

The lead frame 110 may have a cutout, depressed, or recessed region 114 (FIG. 4A) in which the capacitors 102 a, 102 b can be positioned below a surface 110 a of the lead frame on which the die 116 is positioned. With the capacitors positioned below the lead frame surface 110 a, the “active area depth” of the sensor and the entire package thickness is advantageously reduced as compared to a package having a capacitor mounted on the lead frame surface 110 a. The active area depth refers to the distance from the magnetic field transducer 122 to the “top” surface 104 a of the non-conductive mold material. Additional aspects of the sensor 100 including integrated capacitors are described in a U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US-2008-0013298-A1, entitled “Methods and Apparatus for Passive Attachment of Components for Integrated Circuits,” which is assigned to the Assignee of the subject application.

The non-conductive mold material 104 and the ferromagnetic mold material 108 may be the same as, or similar to the non-conductive and ferromagnetic mold materials discussed above in connection with FIGS. 1-3 . The non-conductive mold material 104 encloses the semiconductor die 116, at least a portion of the lead frame 110, and the capacitors 102 a, 102 b. The ferromagnetic mold material 108 is secured to a portion of the non-conductive mold material 104 and a securing mechanism may be provided between the non-conductive and ferromagnetic mold materials to enhance adhesion.

The ferromagnetic mold material 108 is comprised of a ferromagnetic material. Here again, the ferromagnetic material comprising the ferromagnetic mold material 108 may be a soft ferromagnetic material of the type described above, in which case the ferromagnetic mold material forms a concentrator. Alternatively, the ferromagnetic material comprising the ferromagnetic mold material 108 may be a hard ferromagnetic material of the type described above, in which case the ferromagnetic mold material forms for example a bias magnet.

Referring also to FIGS. 5 and 5A, a magnetic field sensor 130 having a further alternative IC package includes non-conductive and ferromagnetic mold materials 134, 138, respectively, and further includes at least one, and here three, integrated passive components, here capacitors 132 a, 132 b, and 132 c. The sensor 130 includes a lead frame 140 having a die attach area 148 on a first surface 140 a to receive a semiconductor die 146 and a second, opposing surface 140 b. A magnetic sensing element 136 is disposed in an active surface 146 a of the die 146. Here again, the active surface 146 a of the die 146 is opposite the die surface 146 b that is secured to the die attach area. Thus, this arrangement may be referred to as a “die up” arrangement.

A plurality of leads 142 a-142 f of the lead frame, here in the form of surface mount leads, are electrically coupled to circuitry supported by the die, here with wire bonds 144 a-144 d (as shown for leads 142 c-142 f, respectively). Capacitors 132 a-132 c are attached to the lead frame 140 on the second surface 140 b of the lead frame opposite the surface 146 a on which the die attach area 148 is located, as shown in the cross-section of FIG. 5A for capacitor 132 b. With the capacitors positioned below the lead frame 140 in this fashion, the active area depth and the entire thickness of the package is advantageously reduced as compared to a package having a capacitor mounted on the “top” surface 140 a of the lead frame. Additional aspects of the sensor 130 including integrated capacitors are described in a U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US-2008-0013298-A1 entitled “Methods and Apparatus for Passive Attachment of Components for Integrated Circuits,” which is assigned to the Assignee of the subject application.

The non-conductive mold material 134 and the ferromagnetic mold material 138 may be the same as, or similar to the non-conductive and ferromagnetic mold materials discussed above in connection with FIGS. 1-3 . The non-conductive mold material 134 encloses the semiconductor die 146, at least a portion of the lead frame 140, and the capacitors 132 a-132 c. The ferromagnetic mold material 138 is secured to a portion of the non-conductive mold material 134 and a securing mechanism may be provided between the non-conductive and ferromagnetic mold materials to enhance adhesion.

The ferromagnetic mold material 138 is comprised of a ferromagnetic material. Here again, the ferromagnetic material comprising the ferromagnetic mold material 138 may be a soft ferromagnetic material of the type described above, in which case the ferromagnetic mold material forms a concentrator or magnetic flux guide. Alternatively, the ferromagnetic material comprising the ferromagnetic mold material 138 may be a hard ferromagnetic material of the type described above, in which case the ferromagnetic mold material forms a bias magnet.

Referring also to FIG. 5B, an alternative cross-sectional view of the sensor 130 is shown in which the shape of the non-conductive and ferromagnetic mold materials 134, 138 is tailored to follow the contour of the surface 140 b of the lead frame and the capacitor 132 b. More particularly, the non-conductive mold material 134 encloses the magnetic field sensor die 146, a portion of the lead frame 140, and the capacitor 132 b and has a reduced thickness adjacent to the surface 140 b of the lead frame as shown. With this arrangement, the ferromagnetic mold material 138 is closer to the semiconductor die 146 than in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 5A. Close proximity between the ferromagnetic mold material 138 and the magnetic field sensing element 136 enhances the effectiveness of the concentrator and/or bias magnet provided by the ferromagnetic mold material.

Referring to FIG. 6 , a magnetic field sensor 150, as may provide a current sensor, includes non-conductive and ferromagnetic mold materials 174, 178, respectively, and further includes at least one integrated component, here a capacitor 172. The sensor 150 includes a lead frame 156 having a first surface 156 a and a second, opposing surface 156 b. The lead frame 156 includes a plurality of leads 152 a-152 h and a current conductor portion 154. Here, the capacitor 172 is secured to the lead frame 156 on the “bottom” (with respect to the view of FIG. 6 ) surface 156 b of the lead frame.

The sensor 150 also includes a semiconductor die 166 having a first surface 166 a and a second, opposing surface 166 b. The die 166 has a magnetic field sensing element 158 disposed in the first surface 166 a. The die 166 is disposed on the lead frame 156 so that the magnetic field sensing element 158 is in close proximity to the current conductor portion 154. The die 166 has an orientation that is upside down (i.e., the first surface 166 a is directed downward) in relation to the conventional orientation with which a die is mounted in an integrated circuit package and may be referred to as a “flip-chip” configuration.

Solder balls 160 a-160 c on the first surface 166 a are coupled directly to the leads 152 e-152 h as shown. An insulator 164 separates the die 166 from the lead frame 156. The insulator 164 can be provided in a variety of ways. For example, in one embodiment, a first portion of the insulator 164 includes a layer of a BCB resin material deposited directly on the first surface 166 a of the die 166. A second portion of the insulator 164 may include a layer of underfill material or a tape material including but not limited to a polymer tape such as a Kapton® tape, deposited on the lead frame 156.

With this power outline integrated circuit (SOIC) package arrangement, the Hall effect element 158 is disposed in close proximity to the current conductor portion 154 and at a predetermined position relative to the conductor portion 154, such that a magnetic field generated by an electrical current passing though the current conductor portion 154, is in a direction substantially aligned with a maximum response axis of the magnetic field sensing element 158. Additional aspects of the sensor 150 are described in a U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2008/0297138, entitled “Current Sensor,” which is assigned to the Assignee of the subject application.

While three solder balls 160 a-160 c are shown, any number of solder balls can be provided, including dummy solder balls for stabilizing the die 166. Also, while solder balls 160 a-160 c are shown, other connection methods can also be used, including, but not limited to gold bumps, eutectic or high lead solder bumps, no-lead solder bumps, gold stud bumps, polymeric conductive bumps, anisotropic conductive paste, or conductive film.

The non-conductive mold material 174 and the ferromagnetic mold material 178 may be the same as, or similar to the non-conductive and ferromagnetic mold materials discussed above in connection with FIGS. 1-3 . Thus, the non-conductive mold material 174 encloses the magnetic field sensor die 166, at least a portion of the lead frame 152, and the capacitor 172. The ferromagnetic mold material 178 is secured to a portion of the non-conductive mold material 174 and a securing mechanism may be provided between the non-conductive and ferromagnetic mold materials to enhance adhesion.

The ferromagnetic mold material 178 is comprised of a ferromagnetic material. Here again, the ferromagnetic material comprising the ferromagnetic mold material 178 may be a soft ferromagnetic material of the type described above, in which case the ferromagnetic mold material forms a concentrator or magnetic flux shield. In operation, the flux concentrator 178 tends to concentrate the magnetic flux generated by the current passing through the current conductor portion 154 so as to cause the current sensor 150 to have a higher sensitivity than otherwise possible. The flux concentrator 178 will also tend to guide small fields away from the magnetic sensor element in certain configurations and therefore shield the sensor from externally applied stray fields. Alternatively, the ferromagnetic material comprising the ferromagnetic mold material 178 may be a hard ferromagnetic material of the type described above, in which case the ferromagnetic mold material forms a bias magnet.

Referring to FIG. 7 , another alternative magnetic field sensor 180 includes a semiconductor die 182 having a first surface 182 a in which a plurality of magnetic field sensing elements 184 a-184 b are disposed and a second, opposing surface 182 b attached to a die attach area 186 on a first surface 188 a of a lead frame 188, a non-conductive mold material 190 enclosing the die and at least a portion of the lead frame, and a ferromagnetic mold material 194 secured to a portion of the non-conductive mold material. As is apparent, the magnetic field sensing elements 184 a-184 b are here shown to be disposed “on” the first die surface 182 a in the manner of a magnetoresistance element. However, as noted above, it will be appreciated that this and the other embodiments described herein may utilize any magnetic field sensing device type.

The non-conductive mold material 190 and the ferromagnetic mold material 194 may be the same as, or similar to the non-conductive and ferromagnetic mold materials discussed above in connection with FIGS. 1-3 . The ferromagnetic mold material 194 is comprised of a ferromagnetic material. Here again, the ferromagnetic material comprising the ferromagnetic mold material 194 may be a soft ferromagnetic material of the type described above, in which case the ferromagnetic mold material forms a concentrator. Alternatively, the ferromagnetic material comprising the ferromagnetic mold material 194 may be a hard ferromagnetic material of the type described above, in which case the ferromagnetic mold material forms a bias magnet.

The ferromagnetic mold material 194 contacts several surfaces of the non-conductive mold material 190, including portions of a top surface 190 a of the non-conductive mold material, as shown. With this arrangement of the ferromagnetic mold material 194 being adjacent to the magnetic field sensing elements 184 a, 184 b, lower magnetic fields may be achieved than in embodiments in which the ferromagnetic mold material does not extend over the top surface 190 a of the non-conductive mold material (e.g., FIGS. 1-3 ), as may be particularly desirable in embodiments in which the magnetic field sensing elements are GMR elements. Furthermore, providing the ferromagnetic mold material over a portion of the top surface 190 a may also operate as a form of securing a mechanism, to thereby improve the adhesion between the non-conductive and ferromagnetic mold materials.

Referring to FIG. 8 , a flow diagram shows an illustrative process for fabricating the sensors of FIGS. 1-7 . In a step 200, the lead frame (e.g., lead frame 18 of FIG. 1 ) is formed. Various materials and processes may be used to form the lead frame. As an example, the lead frame may be a stamped or etched metal, such as copper or a copper alloy.

In step 204, the semiconductor die (e.g., die 14 of FIG. 1 ) is attached to the lead frame. For example, the die may be attached to the die attach area (e.g., die attach area 16 of FIG. 1 ) by a conventional technique such as by soldering or with the use of an epoxy (either conductive or non-conductive epoxy may be used depending on the need) or an adhesive tape. Alternatively, in the case of a flip-chip arrangement, the die may be attached to the lead frame with solder balls for example.

In an optional step 206, an integrated component (e.g., capacitors 102 a-102 b of FIG. 4 ) is provided on the lead frame. The capacitors may be attached via a solder process or a conductive epoxy process onto the lead frame. Furthermore, step 206 may be combined with step 204 such that a single solder reflow or epoxy cure heat cycle may be used to secure the die to the die attach area and also secure the capacitor to the lead frame.

In a further optional step 208, circuitry supported by the die including, but not limited to the magnetic field sensing element, is electrically coupled to leads of the lead frame, such as by wire bonding. Step 208 is optional because in certain configurations, such as the flip-chip configuration of FIG. 6 , attaching the die to the lead frame in step 204 includes coupling the circuitry to the leads, such as with the use of the solder bumps.

The non-conductive mold material is formed in steps 212 and 216 in which the die/lead frame subassembly is placed in a mold cavity into which the non-conductive mold material is introduced, such as by injection molding, compression molding, transfer molding or potting.

In step 218, the subassembly, now including the non-conductive mold material, is removed (optionally following a time interval appropriate for curing, depending on the composition of the non-conductive mold material) from the first mold cavity and placed in a second mold cavity. In step 222, the ferromagnetic mold material is introduced into the second mold cavity to form a bias magnet or concentrator.

As noted above, in some embodiments, the ferromagnetic mold material can be secured to the non-conductive mold material using an adhesive, such as a thermoset adhesive (e.g., a two-part epoxy). According to one such example, prior to step 222 (for example between steps 218 and 222), the epoxy is applied to the bottom surface 20 b and lower side portions of the non-conductive mold material 20 (FIG. 1 ) and the epoxy cures as a result of the heat applied during the molding of the ferromagnetic mold material in step 222.

If the sensor is to include a third mold material (e.g., third mold material 54 of FIG. 2 or overmold material 90 of FIG. 3 ), then in step 226 (optionally following a time interval appropriate for curing, depending on the third or overmold material), the subassembly including the non-conductive and ferromagnetic mold materials, is removed from the second mold cavity and placed into a third mold cavity and in step 228, the third mold or overmold material is introduced into the third mold cavity. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the use of additional mold materials is possible. In step 230, the subassembly is removed from the final mold cavity (i.e., the second mold cavity in embodiments in which a third mold is not used, or the third mold cavity in embodiments in which such is used).

Referring also to FIG. 8A, a flow diagram shows an alternative process for fabricating the sensors of FIGS. 1-7 . In a step 232, the lead frame is formed. In step 234, the lead frame is placed in a mold cavity. In step 236, the ferromagnetic mold material (e.g., mold material 30 of FIG. 1 ) is introduced into the mold cavity to form a magnet or concentrator.

In step 238, the subassembly including the lead frame and ferromagnetic mold material is removed from the mold cavity and the semiconductor die is attached to the lead frame die attach area, such as by soldering or with the use of an epoxy or an adhesive tape. In optional step 240, an integrated component, such as capacitors 102 a-102 b of FIG. 4 , is attached to the lead frame. Here again steps 238 and 240 may be combined such that a single solder reflow or epoxy cure may be used to secure the die to the die attach area and also secure the capacitor to the lead frame.

In a further optional step 242, circuitry supported by the die is electrically coupled to leads of the lead frame, such as by wire bonding. Step 242 is optional because in certain configurations, such as the flip-chip configuration of FIG. 6 , attaching the die to the lead frame in step 238 includes coupling the circuitry to the leads, such as with the use of the solder bumps.

The non-conductive mold material (such as mold material 20 of FIG. 1 ) is formed in step 244 in which the die/lead frame subassembly is placed into a mold cavity into which the non-conductive mold material is introduced, such as by injection molding, compression molding, transfer molding or potting.

In embodiments in which the sensor includes a third mold material (e.g., third mold material 54 of FIG. 2 or overmold material 90 of FIG. 3 ), then in step 246 (optionally following a time interval appropriate for curing, depending on the third or overmold material), the subassembly including the non-conductive and ferromagnetic mold materials, is removed from the second mold cavity and placed into a third mold cavity and in step 248, the third mold or overmold material is introduced into the third mold cavity. In step 249, the subassembly is removed from the final mold cavity (i.e., second or third mold cavity depending on whether optional steps 246, 248 are performed).

The mold steps of the fabrication processes described in connection with FIGS. 8 and 8A may be achieved by the same or different mold processes. For example, all of the molding steps 216, 222, and 230 may be achieved by the same molding process, such as transfer molding. Alternatively, one or more such steps may be by transfer molding and the other such steps may be by injection molding. Thus, it will also be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the different mold steps may be by the same or different molding processes and therefore at the same or different speeds and/or pressures for example. In general, the mold setup and cure times can be selected based on the mold process (e.g., taking into account molding pressure, speed, and temperature), mold materials and mold geometry.

In some applications transfer molding is desirable because of the relatively lower pressures and thinner mold cavity requirements (as compared to injection molding for example). As a result of the lower pressures, transfer molding generally can result in lower stress on the sensor and the ability to use thinner mold cavities can increase the throughput per mold shot, thereby reducing the cost of fabrication.

Referring also to FIG. 9 , according to a further aspect, a bias magnet or concentrator can be provided by a layer 254 of ferromagnetic material formed over a first surface 250 a of a semiconductor wafer 250. Various conventional wafer level packaging techniques may be used to provide the layer 254, such as pouring, molding, or coating. The magnetic field sensor embodiments of FIGS. 10-13 are formed from wafer 250. In embodiments in which the layer 254 provides a bias magnet, the layer is comprised of a material containing hard magnetic material particles, such as a hard ferrite, a SmCo alloy, a NdFeB alloy, a thermoplastic polymer with hard magnetic particles, or a thermoset polymer with hard magnetic particles. And in embodiments in which the layer 254 provides a concentrator, the layer is comprised of a soft ferromagnetic material, such as NiFe, Ni, a Ni alloy, steel, or ferrite.

The thickness of the ferromagnetic layer 254 may be tailored for a particular application and particular sensor characteristics, including but not limited to the sensitivity of the magnetic field sensing element and the airgap. Illustrative thicknesses for layer 254 are on the order of 100 to 500 microns.

Referring also to FIG. 10 , a magnetic field sensor 260 includes a magnetic field sensing element 262 disposed in a first surface 264 a of the die 264 and a ferromagnetic material layer 266 formed over a second, opposing surface 264 b of the die 264. The die 264 and layer 266 may be provided by dicing the wafer 250 (FIG. 9 ) into individual IC device die. A lead frame 268 includes leads 268 a, 268 b and a die attach area (not visible in the view of FIG. 10 ) to which the second surface 264 b of the die is attached. Portions of the lead frame 268 (not shown in FIG. 10 for clarity) may extend to support the die in the manner of other lead frame embodiments. The sensing element 262 and other circuitry supported by the first surface 264 a of the die may be coupled to the leads by various techniques, such as wire bonds as shown. The die/lead frame subassembly may be overmolded with an overmold material 270 as shown to provide a packaged magnetic field sensor device 260.

Referring also to FIG. 11 , a further alternative magnetic field sensor 300 as may be formed by separating the wafer 250 of FIG. 9 into individual IC device die is shown. The sensor 300 includes a magnetic field sensing element 304 disposed in a first surface 308 a of the die 308 and a ferromagnetic material layer 310 formed over the second, opposing surface 308 b of the die 308. Solder balls 312 are provided over the first surface 308 a of the die for coupling the magnetic field sensing element 304 and associated circuitry to a lead frame (not shown), such as in a flip-chip arrangement similar to the arrangement shown in FIG. 6 . Thus, the lead frame may be the same as or similar to the lead frame of FIG. 6 .

Referring also to FIG. 12 , another alternative magnetic field sensor 320, that also may be formed by separating the semiconductor wafer 250 of FIG. 9 into individual die, includes a magnetic field sensing element 324 disposed in a first surface 328 a of the die 328 and a ferromagnetic material layer 330 formed over the second, opposing surface 328 b of the die 308.

Solder balls 334 are formed for coupling the magnetic field sensing element 324 and associated circuitry to a lead frame, such as any of the above-described lead frames, a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), or other substrate with die or components, such as may take the form of a Multi-Chip Module (MCM) for example. While the solder balls 334 may be formed over the ferromagnetic layer 330, here, regions of the layer 330 are opened, such as by laser ablation, to permit the solder balls to contact the die 328, as shown. Through Silicon Vias (TSVs) 338 are formed through the die 328 to couple the magnetic field sensing element 324 and associated circuitry to the solder balls 334, as shown, for further coupling to a lead frame. The TSVs may be formed prior to application of the ferromagnetic material 330 to the wafer to isolate the ferromagnetic materials from the wafer fabrication process and reduce potential cross-contamination of the TSV tool.

Another magnetic field sensor embodiment 340, that may be formed by dicing the semiconductor wafer 250 of FIG. 9 into individual die, is shown in FIG. 13 to include a semiconductor die 344 having a first surface 344 a over which the layer 346 of ferromagnetic material is formed and a second opposing surface 344 b. A magnetic field sensing element 348 (shown as a Hall sensor in the substrate or epi layer) and associated circuitry (not shown) are disposed in the first surface 344 a of the die. TSVs 350 are formed through the die 344 to couple the magnetic field sensing element 348 to solder balls 352, as shown, for further coupling to a lead frame that may be the same as or similar to any of the above-described lead frames. An optional layer 354 may be provided between the die surface 344 a and the layer 346 in order to protect the die from particles in the layer 346. In such embodiments, the layer 354 may comprise, but is not limited to, a polyimide or BCB layer deposited at the wafer level, or a tape layer or other insulator.

Referring also to FIG. 14 , an illustrative process for fabricating the sensors 260, 300, 320, 340 of FIGS. 10-13 , respectively, is shown. In step 370, one or more magnetic field sensing elements and associated circuitry are formed in the first, active surface of the wafer. In embodiments in which the magnetic field sensor and other circuitry formed in a first surface of the die are coupled to a lead frame or other structure from a second, opposing surface of the die, TSVs are formed through the wafer and solder balls (e.g., solder balls 334 of FIG. 12 ) are formed on or applied to the wafer in step 370.

In step 374, a layer of ferromagnetic material, such as layer 310 of FIG. 11 , is formed over a surface of a semiconductor wafer by any of various wafer level packaging techniques, such as by pouring, molding, or coating.

A lead frame may be formed in an optional step 378. Various materials and processes may be used to form the lead frame. As an example, the lead frame may be a stamped or etched metal, such as copper, a copper alloy, or in some instances a soft magnetic material such as Kovar.

In optional step 386, the die and the magnetic field sensing element and associated circuitry are attached to the lead frame. The die/lead frame subassembly is placed into a mold cavity in optional step 390, and an overmold material is introduced into the mold cavity to enclose the die and a portion of the lead frame in optional step 394. Steps 378-394 are considered optional since, as mentioned above in connection with FIG. 13 for example, in some embodiments, the die may be attached to a PCB, MCM, or other structure, without the use of a lead frame.

Another magnetic field sensor embodiment 400 is shown in FIG. 15 to include a semiconductor die 402 having a first, active surface 402 a in which a magnetic field sensing element 404 is formed and a second, opposing surface 402 b. A lead frame 406 having leads 406 a-406 c is provided with a die attach area 406 d to which the surface 402 b of the die 402 is attached, such as with the use of adhesives, such as epoxy or an adhesive tape.

A bias magnet 410 is provided with a non-contiguous central region 410 a. As in the above-described embodiments, the bias magnet 410 may take the form of a ring-shaped structure in which case the non-contiguous central region is an aperture or alternatively may form only a partial or alternative ring-shaped structure, such as a D-shaped structure, a C-shaped structure, or a U-shaped structure.

The magnet 410 includes one or more channels 410 b extending laterally from the central region 410 a. The die/lead frame/magnet subassembly is overmolded with an overmold material 412 to enclose the die, magnet, and a portion of the lead frame. Here, the magnet channel 410 b is provided for the purpose of facilitating the overmolding step as will be described.

The bias magnet 410 may be formed by a molding process, such as injection molding or transfer molding, as described above in the case of the ferromagnetic mold material in the various embodiments. In this case, the magnet 410 may be molded to the lead frame 406 (e.g., in the manner described above in connection with FIG. 8A). Alternatively, the magnet 410 may be a separately molded structure or may be a sintered magnet and may be attached to the lead frame with an epoxy or an adhesive tape.

Referring also to FIG. 16 , an illustrative process for fabricating the magnetic field sensor 400 of FIG. 15 is shown. The lead frame 406 is formed in step 420 by any conventional method. In step 424, one or more magnetic field sensing elements and associated processing circuitry are formed in the first surface 402 a of a semiconductor die 402. In step 428, the bias magnet 410 having a non-contiguous central region 410 a and one or more laterally extending channels 410 b is formed. In embodiments in which the magnet 410 is formed by a molding process, the mold cavity can be provided with structures to form the one or more channels in the ferromagnetic mold material. The magnet 410 is attached to the lead frame, such as with the use of epoxy or an adhesive tape, in step 432. In embodiments in which the magnet 410 is molded to the lead frame, steps 428 and 432 may be combined.

In step 436, the die/lead frame subassembly is placed into a mold cavity for overmolding with an overmold material 412 (FIG. 15 ) in step 440. In step 444, the device 400 is evacuated through the one or more channels 410 b. For example, air may be removed from the central region 410 a with a vacuum system (not shown) coupled to the channel(s) 410 b. It will also be appreciated that use of one or more channels to permit evacuation of the non-contiguous central region can be applied to the above-described embodiments. For example, in step 222 of FIG. 8 , the second mold cavity can have one or more structures sized and arranged so that the second mold material is formed so as to have one or more channels.

Referring also to FIG. 17 , an alternative magnetic field sensor 450, includes a semiconductor die 452, a magnetic field sensing element 462, a lead frame 454, a non-conductive mold material 456, and a ferromagnetic mold material 458. The sensor may include a third, overmold material, not shown here, but described above in other embodiments, which may increase the size of the package beyond ferromagnetic mold material 458. The non-conductive mold material 456 and the ferromagnetic mold material 458 may be the same as or similar to like materials discussed above in connection with other embodiments. The sensor 450 further includes integrated passive components, here in the form of capacitors 464 a, 464 b, attached to lead frame portions 454 a, 454 b, and 454 c which terminate in corresponding leads, as shown. Here again, the non-conductive mold material 456 encloses the die 452, at least a portion of the lead frame 454, and the capacitors 464 a, 464 b.

Here, the die 452 is attached to the top of the lead frame 454. An adhesive may be used to secure the die to the lead frame 454 and more particularly to lead frame portions 454 a, 454 b, and 454 c. Thus, in this embodiment, since the die attach area of the lead frame 454 extends across multiple leads 454 a-454 c, the adhesive attaching the die to the lead frame must be comprised of a non-conductive material, such as a non-conductive epoxy, or a die attach tape such as a Kapton® tape. Here, leads 454 a-454 c are electrically coupled to the die 452 by wire bonds 480. The sensor 450 may be fabricated according to the above-described illustrative processes, such as are shown in FIGS. 8 and 8A.

The sensor 450 includes two securing mechanisms. The first securing mechanism is provided in the form of slots 484 in the lead frame that serve to enhance adhesion of the non-conductive mold material 456 to the lead frame 454. A second securing mechanism, in the form of overhanging portions 486 of the lead frame that extend beyond the non-conductive mold material, serve to enhance adhesion of the non-conductive mold material 456 to the ferromagnetic mold material 458 and the lead frame. As noted above in conjunction with FIG. 1 , because the overhanging portions 486 of the lead frame extend into the ferromagnetic mold material, it will be appreciated that the ferromagnetic mold material should be non-conductive or have a sufficiently low conductivity to prevent the leads from electrically shorting resulting in the device not operating as intended.

Having described preferred embodiments of the invention it will now become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments incorporating these concepts may be used.

For example, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the package types, shapes, and dimensions, including but not limited to the thicknesses of the mold materials, can be readily varied to suit a particular application both in terms of the electrical and magnetic requirements as well as any packaging considerations.

It will also be appreciated that the various features shown and described herein in connection with the various embodiments can be selectively combined. As only two of many examples, the barbs shown in FIG. 1 and the channel provided in the bias magnet of FIG. 15 may be implemented in other embodiments.

Accordingly, it is submitted that the invention should not be limited to the described embodiments but rather should be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims. All publications and references cited herein are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A magnetic field sensor comprising: a ferromagnetic mold material; a lead frame comprising a first set of leads, a second set of leads, and a current conductor portion having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein at least one lead of the first set of leads is in contact with the first end of the current conductor portion, wherein at least one lead of the second set of leads is connected to the second end of the current conductor portion; a semiconductor die attached to the lead frame and having a first surface and a second opposing surface, wherein a magnetic field sensing element is disposed in either the first surface or the second opposing surface, wherein the magnetic field sensing element is proximate to the current conductor portion; and a nonconductive mold encapsulating the semiconductor die, the magnetic field sensing element and at least a portion of the lead frame, wherein a surface of the nonconductive mold is attached to the ferromagnetic mold material; wherein the magnetic field sensing element is configured to sense a current in the current conductor portion by measuring a changing magnetic field.
 2. The magnetic field sensor of claim 1, wherein the ferromagnetic mold material comprises a hard ferromagnetic material to form a bias magnet.
 3. The magnetic field sensor of claim 2, wherein the hard ferromagnetic material comprises at least one of a ferrite, a SmCo alloy, a NdFeB alloy, a thermoplastic polymer with hard magnetic particles, or a thermoset polymer with hard magnetic particles.
 4. The magnetic field sensor of claim 1, wherein the ferromagnetic mold material comprises a soft ferromagnetic material to form a concentrator.
 5. The magnetic field sensor of claim 4, wherein the soft ferromagnetic material comprises at least one of NiFe, Ni, a Ni alloy, steel, or ferrite.
 6. The magnetic field sensor of claim 1, further comprising a passive component attached to a surface of the lead frame, wherein the nonconductive mold encapsulates the passive component, and wherein the passive component is between the lead frame and the ferromagnetic mold material.
 7. The magnetic field sensor of claim 6, wherein the passive component is a capacitor.
 8. The magnetic field sensor of claim 1, further comprising an insulator separating the semiconductor die from the first set of leads, the second set of leads and the current conductor portion.
 9. The magnetic field sensor of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field sensing element is a Hall effect element.
 10. The magnetic field sensor of claim 1, wherein the lead frame is between the semiconductor die and the ferromagnetic mold material.
 11. The magnetic field sensor of claim 1, wherein the lead frame further comprises a third set of leads electrically isolated from the first set of leads, the second set of leads and the current conductor portion, and wherein at least one lead of the third set of leads is connected to the semiconductor die by an electrical connector.
 12. The magnetic field sensor of claim 11, wherein the first set of leads and the second set of leads are on a first end of the nonconductive mold and the third set of leads are on a second end of the nonconductive mold opposite the first end of the nonconductive mold.
 13. A current sensor comprising: a ferromagnetic mold material; a lead frame comprising a first set of leads, a second set of leads, a third set of leads and a current conductor portion having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein at least one lead of the first set of leads is in contact with the first end of the current conductor portion, wherein at least one lead of the second set of leads is connected to the second end of the current conductor portion, wherein the third set of leads are electrically isolated from the first set of leads, the second set of leads and the current conductor portion; a semiconductor die attached to the lead frame and having a first surface and a second opposing surface, wherein a Hall effect element is disposed in the first surface and is proximate to the current conductor portion, wherein at least one lead of the third set of leads is connected to the semiconductor die by an electrical connector; a capacitor attached to a surface of the lead frame; and a nonconductive mold encapsulating the semiconductor die, the capacitor, the Hall effect element and at least a portion of the lead frame, wherein the Hall effect element is configured to sense current in the current conductor portion by measuring a changing magnetic field.
 14. The current sensor of claim 13, wherein the ferromagnetic mold material comprises a hard ferromagnetic material to form a bias magnet.
 15. The current sensor of claim 14, wherein the hard ferromagnetic material comprises at least one of a ferrite, a SmCo alloy, a NdFeB alloy, a thermoplastic polymer with hard magnetic particles, or a thermoset polymer with hard magnetic particles.
 16. The current sensor of claim 13, wherein the ferromagnetic mold material comprises a soft ferromagnetic material to form a concentrator.
 17. The current sensor of claim 16, wherein the soft ferromagnetic material comprises at least one of NiFe, Ni, a Ni alloy, steel, or ferrite.
 18. The current sensor of claim 17, further comprising an insulator separating the semiconductor die from the first set of leads, the second set of leads and the current conductor portion.
 19. The current sensor of claim 13, wherein the first set of leads and the second set of leads are on a first end of the nonconductive mold and the third set of leads are on a second end of the nonconductive mold opposite the first end. 